Torpedo-protector for ships.



APPLICATION FILED NOV-14.19.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Brianne;

CORNELIUS DWYER, or AMSTERDA1VI,'NEW YonK.

ronrnno-rno'rnoron FOR sHIP's."

Specification of Letters Patent,

' Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed November 14, 1917. Serial No. 201;964

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS DwYnR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomcry and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Protectors for Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in torpedo protectors for'ships.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive device adapted for rendering a ship substantially invulnerable to the attack of torpedoes, such as those ordinarily launched from submarines.

A further object of the device is the provision of a ship protector adapted to absorb the shock and dissipate the force of explosion of a torpedo without injuring a vessel adjacent which the torpedo explodes, the arrangement being such that the travel of the vessel is unimpeded by the device.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a ready means for rendering the explosion of a torpedo inefi'ectual by expending and dissipating the force of the explosion, when a torpedo explodes adjacent to or in contact with the hull of a ship.

lVith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then claimed.

In the drawing forming a part of this application and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ship provided with the present device,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken upon line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

It being understood that my device is adapted for protecting any form of boat, the same is herein illustrated in connection with the hull 10 of a ship 11, the device broadly consisting of a plurality of tubes 12 having open mouths 13 at the side of the hull 10 at the lower ends of the tubes and having open upper ends it lying flush with the deck 15 of the ship.

The tubes 12 may be arranged in any desired number with their mouths 13 suitably positioned at the opposite sides of the hull 10, the said mouths being preferably provided with closing guards, or slides 16 suitably carried by the sideof the hull 10. The guard 16 is herein illustrated as slidably positioned between parallel guide strips 17 and arranged with an operating rod 18 whereby the'mouth 13 of the adjacent tube may be opened and closed at will. 7

It will be evident that the mouths 13 of some of the tubes 12 may all be arranged at substantially the waterline, so as to dissipate'the force of the explosion of a torpedo traveling beneath the surface of the water,

while the mouths of the other tubesmay be arranged beneath the surface. I

The tubes 12-might alsobe arranged overlapping each other with their mouths 13 breaking joints upon the outer side of the hull 10 so that substantially the entire length of the hull would be provided with opposite shock dispelling openings. I

The tubes 12 are preferably formed of boiler iron or armor plates, of suitable strength and it will be seen that their arrangement in no manner impedes the travel of the ship 11.

The guard 16 is formed of sufficient strength to withstand the force of the water and when a torpedo strikes the plate 16 and explodes, such explosion will be relieved and dissipated up through the adjacent tubes 12 whereby the force and concussion will be prevented from injuring the ship.

The arrangement of the tubes 12 at the most vulnerable portions of the ship, such as opposite the engine room, will lessen the liability of an injury occurring to the ship from torpedoes which will disable the vessel while the disssipation of the shock of the explosion will at all events lessen the damage to the ship which would otherwise occur and affording greater opportunity for rescuing the passengers in the event of a submarine attack.

Only the preferred embodiment of the device is herein set forth for fully illustrating the parts of my invention and it will be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

It will be seen that the walls of the tubes 12 adjacent the sides of the hull 1O afford triple resistance throughout the Vertical length of the tube against any explosion as well as the striking of a projectile at points tube,

above. the tube inlets 13. The tubes 12 are preferably arranged with cross braces or stay bolts 19 arranged within the tube of any number desired and adding to their strength and resisting qualities. It will be noted that the guards 16 are of greater dimensions than the months 13 of the tubes 12 for covering-a greater area upon the sides of the hull against which a torpedo may strike, while the said guards may be enlarged to a'much greater extent than herein indicated if found desirable.

lVhat I claim as new is 1. A protector for ships comprising a tube passing vertically through the hull thereof terminating in the deck and in the side of the hull with the lower open end of the tube positioned adjacent the water line and a guard plate for the lower end of the 2. An explosion dissipating device for ships comprising a tube arranged within the hull extending Vertically therethrough and having one end opening at the deck of the hull and its other end opening at the outer wall of the hull adjacent the water line and a fragile guard member provided for the lower open end of the tube.

3. In combination with a ships hull pro vided with openings in the deck and in the sides of the hull, sheet metal tubes vertically extending through the hull and con- Goptea of this patent may be obtained for -11ect ing the openings in the deck with the openings in the hull, the openings in the hull being arranged at different elevations adjacent the water line of the hull and guards for the said openings in the hull.

5. A ship having a hull provided with a deck, the deck and hull having similarly sized openings arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the ship, sheet metal tubes ver-.

tically extending through the hull and connecting the openings in the deck with the openings in the hull, the openings in the hull being arranged at different elevations adjacent the water line of the hull, a guard plate for one of the openings in the hull slidably arranged upon the outer sides of the hull and an operating rod for the said plate extending to a point adjacent the deck.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CORNELIUS DWYER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

